Adaptive Sport Programs and Recreation Resources for Children with Disabilities Individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities experience problems with their overall health including higher rates of obesity when compared to their typically developing peers. Obesity is a worldwide health concern that is not often tracked in children and youth with disabilities over their lifespan. Children…
Strength Training is for Everyone, Regardless of Age Exercise is an important aspect of overall health and wellness. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends adults participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise at least five days each week. However, most adults do not follow this recommendation. Furthermore, we should be…
Holiday Gifts to Encourage Improvements in Gross Motor Skills by Danielle Burke, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Infants Pop Up Toys: Encourage reaching in multiple developmental positions such as quadruped (hands and knees), tall kneeling, and standing. (pictured toy $25 on Amazon) Floor Activity Mirror: Encourages child to look up while on their…
How to Create a Weighted Animal to Improve Calming Strategies by Thomas Stevens, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Deep pressure can be very calming for children who have a hard time with self-regulation and attention to tasks. For many kids, bear hugs, weighted blankets, or weighted vests are tools that get this type…
The Role of Physical Therapy in COVID-19 Recovery by Pamela Guevarra, PT, DPT, CCI, Cert. D.N. AzOPT Buckeye Physical Therapist Researchers and healthcare professionals continue to learn more each day about the coronavirus that has uprooted our daily lives. While more is still to be learned, one thing for certain is the role physical therapy…
We are so thankful for the many provider offices who participated in our 12th edition of the AZOPT & Kids Place Pumpkin Challenge. This has been a challenging year, and we truly appreciate the fun and exciting distraction. You truly blew us away with your artistic creativity. Everyone who participated is a winner – because the…
Ergonomics for Remote Working More people than ever are working from home and/or sitting at a desk throughout the day. With such a sudden change, you may not have an ideal desk set up. This can lead to poor posture throughout the day. What is ergonomics? Ergonomics is an applied science concerned with designing and…
Maintaining Attention During Remote Learning By Kristi Knight, OTD/S Kids Place Student Occupational Therapist Online school can be hard for any child, especially if that child has a short attention span due to ADHD, developmental delay, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Helping your child maintain focus on their schoolwork proves to be difficult for many…
Pitt Hopkins Syndrome Awareness by Lauren Bacsalmasi, DPT Kids Place Central Pediatric Physical Therapist Pitt Hopkins is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a gene called TCF4 in chromosome 18. While this disorder is considered to be very rare, diagnosis is becoming more common with increased access to genetic testing. It is associated with other disorders…
